The LuLac Edition #3150, February 21st, 2016

SOUTH CAROLINA (GOP)

TRUMP WINS

Trump (Photo: NYDailynews.com)

Donald Trump now has won two primaries in two of the most different regions of the country. His win in South Carolina, following New Hampshire gives him more electoral credibility than ever. But with wins comes the daggers. Right now in the wake of this win, Trump has a big target on his back. Especially since he captured all fifty delegates in the state.
Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz can crow all they want about being an alternative to Trump but both have their issues. Cruz is seen as too conservative and unlikable. Rubio is seen as likable but a Republican version of Barack Obama. One term Senator, pretty much a lifetime public servant with a light resume.
The exit of Jeb Bush was the end of the Bush dynasty. At least for a while. There are a gaggle of grandchildren running around but Jeb’s campaign is the end of a Bush era that began in 1980 when Ronald Reagan chose “The Ambassador” to be his Vice President. Bush was classy in defeat and certainly sent signals that he wanted a nominee that wasn’t Trump. Never said it but listen to the speech and see what I mean. His candidacy was the wrong one at the wrong time. He might have been better off trying in 2012 instead of this year.
Nevada is next for the GOP but the next big deal is going to be Super Tuesday where there are 12 states across the nation up for grabs. That’s a lot of delegates. If Trump picks at least 8 of the 12 states off, you will see an effort to stop Trump from getting the nomination. The PACs are going to be coming after him and if Rubio doesn’t win a primary and Cruz doesn’t improve, look for another entrant to ride in and try to stop Trump.
There is a heart and soul battle for what the GOP will be in the next twenty years. The primary elections of Trump have basically repudiated the moderates, the neo cons as well as the Tea Party followers. Trump has scattered all three wings by his smart campaign but also by pointing out that all three segments of the party failed the voters in governing. The fireworks have already begun.

NEVADA

HILLARY WINS

Hillary Clinton (Photo: New York Magazine)

Hillary Clinton won a convincing win in Nevada. Clinton is battling a challenge from Bernie Sanders who says he will fight on. The next battle ground state is South Carolina next Saturday night. What, you might say, I thought there was a primary tonight??? Well yes but the South Carolinians vote in two different weekends. Patrick Hussion of WYFF Channel 4 says that Greenville County elections officer Conway Belangia said each party sees benefits in having their own day for voting in the primary. "It provides each political party with their own special day. It's their day in the sun," he says. Belangia says South Carolina benefits from two primary dates because no other state primaries will be competing for the national limelight on those days.
It’s the south, what can I tell you.
Clinton will be battled by Sanders but I think she can count on support she didn’t have in 2008 from minorities. Sanders is getting support but in my opinion it will not overcome her strength in South Carolina. Like Trump she will benefit from Super Tuesday and the big calendar. It’s looking good but she needs to ask some more pointed questions. Bernie Sanders says he’ll pay for every kid to go to college by taxing Wall Street investors. Okay so that means Sanders will impose a tax on stock transactions. Does he realize the implications that will have for regular folks that have annuities, IRAs and 401ks? Not all people who buy stocks are Wall Street insiders!
It is easy for Sanders to be against everything when he can’t tell you how the hell it works. Clinton has to make the point that Bernie has to be more specific on just how the hell he would reform everything. That’s her challenge because Bernie is selling Popsicles in his campaign and Hillary is selling Granola bars. Bernie knows more people would like a Popsicle than health bar. Now is the time to get him to be more specific.